Combination box and display unit

ABSTRACT

The present disclosure generally relates to a combination box and display unit. The unit may be used initially as a box to ship products, such as electronic cigarettes, and may then be converted into a display for the electronic cigarettes.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This disclosure claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No.61/614,973, titled ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE ATTACHMENTS, COMPONENTS ANDHOLDERS to Craig Weiss and Mark Scatterday that was filed on Mar. 23,2012 and to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/674,725 titledCOMBINATION BOX AND DISPLAY UNIT to Mark Scatterday that was filed onJul. 23, 2012.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure generally relates to product packaging, and moreparticularly, to a combination box and display unit.

SUMMARY

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DESCRIPTION OFTHE DISCLOSURE. This summary is not intended to identify key features ofthe claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid indetermining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

In accordance with aspects of the present disclosure, a configuration ofproduct packaging for electronic cigarettes is presented. The disclosurepresents a combination box and display unit for electronic cigarettes.

In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, acombination box and display unit is disclosed. The combination box anddisplay unit comprises: two side walls, each having a top portion and abottom portion; a front wall having a top portion and a bottom portion;a back wall having a top portion and a bottom portion; a top; a bottom;and a tear strip extending through a middle portion of each of the frontwall, the two side walls, and the back wall; wherein the tear strip isdisengaged from each of the front wall, the two side walls, and the backwall in order to separate the top portions of the front wall, the twoside walls, and the back wall from the bottom portions of the frontwall, the two side walls, and the back wall.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, acombination box and display unit is disclosed. The combination box anddisplay unit comprises: two side walls, each having a top portion and abottom portion; a front wall having a top portion and a bottom portion;a back wall having a top portion and a bottom portion; a top; a bottom;and a tear strip comprising two parallel perforated lines extendinghorizontally through a middle portion of each of the front wall and theback wall, and slanting upwardly and rearwardly through each of the twoside walls; wherein the tear strip is disengaged from each of the frontwall, the two side walls, and the back wall in order to separate the topportions of the front wall, the two side walls, and the back wall fromthe bottom portions of the front wall, the two side walls, and the backwall.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, acombination box and display unit is disclosed. The combination box anddisplay unit comprises: two side walls, each having a top portion and abottom portion; a front wall having a top portion and a bottom portion;a back wall having a top portion and a bottom portion; a top; a bottom;four vertical edges defined by the front wall, the two side walls, andthe back wall; a tear strip comprising two parallel perforated linesextending horizontally through a middle portion of each of the frontwall and the back wall, and slanting upwardly and rearwardly througheach of the two side walls; wherein the tear strip is disengaged fromeach of the front wall, the two side walls, and the back wall in orderto separate the top portions of the front wall, the two side walls, andthe back wall from the bottom portions of the front wall, the two sidewalls, and the back wall; and wherein the perforated lines compriselarge slits that traverse each of the four vertical edges.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The novel features believed to be characteristic of the application areset forth in the appended claims. In the descriptions that follow, likeparts are marked throughout the specification and drawings with the samenumerals, respectively. The drawing figures are not necessarily drawn toscale and certain figures can be shown in exaggerated or generalizedform in the interest of clarity and conciseness. The disclosure itself,however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives andadvantages thereof, will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of illustrative embodiments when read inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a top view of a flattened and unassembled combination box anddisplay unit in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the combination box and display unit ofFIG. 1, shown folded into a box formation; and

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the combination box and display unit ofFIG. 1, shown in a display unit formation with the tear strip removedand with top portions of the front wall, the side walls, and back walldisengaged from bottom portions of the front wall, the side walls, andthe back wall.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the combination box and display unit ofFIG. 3 shown with a header card inserted into a slot in the interiorsurface of the back wall.

FIG. 5 is a rear view of the combination box and display unit of FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a blister tray of the combination boxand display unit of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the combination box and display unit ofthe present invention with the blister tray shown holding product andwith the header card shown inserted into the slot on the interiorsurface of the back wall.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a vertical edge of the combination box anddisplay unit of FIG. 2, showing large slits of the perforated linestraversing the vertical edge.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawingsis intended as a description of presently preferred embodiments of thedisclosure and is not intended to represent the only forms in which thepresent disclosure can be constructed and/or utilized. The descriptionsets forth the functions and the sequence of steps for constructing andoperating the disclosure in connection with the illustrated embodiments.It is to be understood, however, that the same or equivalent functionsand sequences can be accomplished by different embodiments that are alsointended to be encompassed within the spirit and scope of thisdisclosure.

The present disclosure generally relates to product packaging which maybe used for a variety of products, including electronic cigarettes. Acombination box and display unit for carrying multiple electroniccigarettes will be described within the present disclosure. A number ofadvantages can be provided by the combination box and display unitdescribed herein. For example, the box used for shipping the multipleelectronic cigarettes can be converted to selling display units onceopened, which helps to minimize waste. A number of additional advantageswill become apparent from the description provided below.

FIGS. 1 through 8 will show the combination box and display unit 100.While the embodiments are described for use with electronic cigarettes,it should be clearly understood that the combination box and displayunit 100 may be used with virtually any other type of product.

Turning now to FIG. 1, a top view of a flattened and unassembledcombination box and display unit 100 is shown. The unit 100 may be madeof cardboard or any other suitable material and may comprise a main bodyhaving perforations 312 for disassembly, a blister tray 700, a headercard 500, and a slot 228 for holding the header card 500. When the unit100 is folded along the appropriate areas, the unit 100 forms a box 200,as shown in FIG. 2. The box 200 will have a left side wall 214, a rightside wall 214, a front wall 230, a back wall 220, a bottom 212, and atop 210.

Referring to FIG. 1, the unit 100 may have two parallel, perforatedlines 312 that together form a tear strip 300. When the unit 100 is in aflattened position, the tear strip 300 extends from the right side wall214, through the back wall 220, through the left side wall 214, andthrough the front wall 230. The perforations 312 are shown to be slantedupwardly and rearwardly along the right side wall 214 and left side wall214 and extends horizontally along the back wall 220 (see FIG. 5) andalong the front wall 230 of the unit 100. It should be clearlyunderstood that substantial benefit may be derived from the perforations312 extending horizontally throughout the right side wall 214, back wall220, left side wall 214, and front wall 230 of the unit 100.

Referring to FIG. 2, when the unit 100 is in the configuration of a box200, the tear strip 300 has two ends 310 that come together at a notch400. Although the notch 400 is shown to be positioned at the front ofthe box 200, it should be clearly understood substantial benefit maystill be derived from the notch 400 being positioned at the right sidewall 214, left side wall 214 or back wall 220 of the box 200.

As shown in FIG. 3, in order to convert the box 200 into a display 900,one may dislodge the notch 400 from the box 200, therefore creating ahole in the box 200. One may then take hold of one end 310 of the tearstrip 300 and pull the tear strip 300 until the entire tear strip 300 isdislodged from the box 200. Once the tear strip 300 is removed, then theentire top 210 of the box 200 along with a top portion 216 of the leftside wall 214, a top portion 222 of the back wall 220, a top portion 232of the front wall 230, and a top portion 216 of the right side wall 214of the box 200 will also be dislodged from a bottom portion 218 of theleft side wall 214, a bottom portion 224 of the back wall 220, a bottomportion 234 of the front wall 230, and a bottom portion 218 of the rightside wall 214 of the box 200, respectively. The remaining bottom 212 ofthe box 200, the bottom portion 218 of the left side wall 214, thebottom portion 224 of the back wall 220, the bottom portion 234 of thefront wall 230, and the bottom portion 218 of the right side wall 214 ofthe box 200 together form the display 900. If the tear strip 300 is tornalong perforations 312 that are in a slanted configuration, as shown inFIG. 2, then the right side of the display 900 and the left side of thedisplay 900 will slant upwardly toward the back of the display 900 andthe back of the display 900 will be taller than the front of the display900.

In another embodiment, the two ends 310 of the tear strip 300 may cometogether without the formation of a notch 400. Because of theperforations 312, a user may simply apply pressure to one end 310 orboth ends 310 in order to dislodge the end(s) 310 and begin tearing thetear strip 300.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a header card 500 that may be used with thedisplay 900. Product advertising may be printed upon the header card500. An interior surface 226 of the back wall 220 of the display 900 mayhave a slot 228 for receiving a bottom portion 510 of the header card500 so that customers may see the header card 500 from a distance. Theslot 228 may be made of molded plastic, polystyrene, paper or othersuitable material. It should be clearly understood that substantialbenefit may be derived from the slot 228 being a separate component thatis then adhered to the interior surface 226 of the back wall 220 of thedisplay 900.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a blister tray 700 that may be included with the unit100. The blister tray 700 may be formed of molded plastic, polystyrene,or other suitable material. The blister tray 700 may have a plurality ofindentations 710 shaped to receive at least one of the products 800(e.g. electronic cigarettes) being shipped within the unit 100. Theblister tray 700 may be removable from the bottom 212 of the box200/display 900 or it may be firmly attached to the bottom 212 of thebox 200/display 900 by any suitable adhesive.

Referring to FIG. 8, in one embodiment, when the unit 100 is folded, thefront wall 230, side walls 214, and back wall 220 together form fourvertical edges 236 of the folded box 200. When the unit 100 is die-cut,the vertical edges 236 may have larger perforations or slits 600 thatwill allow the tear strip 300 to disengage at these vertical edges 236more easily.

The foregoing description is provided to enable any person skilled inthe relevant art to practice the various embodiments described herein.Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent tothose skilled in the relevant art, and generic principles defined hereincan be applied to other embodiments. Thus, the claims are not intendedto be limited to the embodiments shown and described herein, but are tobe accorded the full scope consistent with the language of the claims,wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean“one and only one” unless specifically stated, but rather “one or more.”All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the variousembodiments described throughout this disclosure that are known or latercome to be known to those of ordinary skill in the relevant art areexpressly incorporated herein by reference and intended to beencompassed by the claims. Moreover, nothing disclosed herein isintended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether suchdisclosure is explicitly recited in the claims.

1-13. (canceled)
 14. A display unit comprising: a front wall, a backwall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom, a top of thedisplay unit being open; wherein a height of the front wall is less thana height of the back wall, and wherein the bottom is integral with thefront wall, the back wall, the first side wall, and the second sidewall; and a tray above the bottom, the tray including a plurality ofindentations arranged in at least two rows extending between the firstside wall and the second side wall, wherein the indentations of each roware aligned.
 15. The display unit of claim 14, wherein the plurality ofindentations are arranged in at least two columns extending between thefront wall and the back wall, wherein the indentations of each columnare aligned.
 16. The display unit of claim 15, wherein the tray includesexactly two columns.
 17. The display unit of claim 14, wherein the trayis removable.
 18. The display unit of claim 14, wherein the tray isfixedly attached to the bottom.
 19. The display unit of claim 14,wherein the indentations are molded from a plastic material.
 20. Thedisplay unit of claim 14, wherein each indentation is substantiallyrectangular in shape.
 21. The display unit of claim 20, wherein eachindentation has a width measured in a direction from the front wall tothe back wall and a length measured in a direction from the first sidewall to the second side wall, wherein the width is less than the length.22. The display unit of claim 14, further comprising at least oneproduct, a lower portion of the product being disposed in one of theindentations, and an upper portion of the product extending above thefront wall, wherein the upper portion of the product is larger than thelower portion, and wherein the product includes an electronic cigarette.23. The display unit of claim 14, wherein an upper edge of at least oneof the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, or theback wall is at least partially uneven from being torn along aperforated line.
 24. The display unit of claim 23, wherein the upperedge of each of the first side wall and the second side wall is at leastpartially uneven.
 25. The display unit of claim 14, wherein the backwall includes a header card.
 26. The display unit of claim 25, whereinthe header card is disposed in the back wall via a slot defined by theback wall.
 27. A display unit comprising: a front wall, a back wall, afirst side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom, a top of the displayunit being open; wherein the back wall at least partially defines aslot; and a tray above the bottom, the tray including a plurality ofindentations aligned between the first side wall and the second sidewall and between the front wall and the back wall; and a header cardinsertable into the slot, a bottom-most end of the header card having awidth less than a width of the slot.
 28. The display unit of claim 27,wherein a majority of the header card extends above the back wall whenthe header card is in the slot.
 29. The display unit of claim 27,wherein an upper edge of each of the first side wall and the second sidewall is angled relative to the bottom, from the front wall toward theback wall.
 30. The display unit of claim 27, wherein the slot is furtherdefined by a material adhered to an interior surface of the back wall.31. The display unit of claim 27, wherein an upper edge of at least oneof the first side wall, the second side wall, the front wall, and theback wall is at least partially uneven due to being torn along aperforated line.
 32. A display unit comprising: a front wall, a backwall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom, a top of thedisplay unit being open; a tray above the bottom, the tray including aplurality of indentations arranged in at least two rows extendingbetween the first side wall and the second side wall and at least twocolumns extending between the front wall and the back wall, wherein theindentations are aligned within each row and within each column; and aproduct disposed in one of the indentations, wherein the productincludes an electronic cigarette.
 33. The display unit of claim 32,wherein the product is substantially rectangular in cross-sectionalshape.
 34. The display unit of claim 32, wherein the product extendsabove each of the front wall, the first side wall, and the second sidewall.
 35. The display unit of claim 32, wherein the tray includesexactly two columns.
 36. The display unit of claim 32, wherein alongitudinal axis of the electronic cigarette is perpendicular to thebottom.
 37. A display unit comprising: a front wall, a back wall, afirst side wall, a second side wall, and a bottom, a top of the displayunit being open; wherein each of the first side wall and second sidewall includes a front edge parallel to a back edge and a top edgediverging from a bottom edge; a tray above the bottom, the trayincluding a plurality of indentations arranged in at least two rowsbetween the first side wall and the second side wall and exactly twocolumns extending between the front wall and the back wall, wherein theindentations are aligned within each row and within each column; and atleast one product disposed in at least one of the indentations, whereinthe product includes an electronic cigarette, the product extendingabove each of the front wall, the first side wall, and the second sidewall.